gentlewolf69
Active Member
120 messages
joined Sep 2012
Girls, I really can't help you much with finding a photographer because that’s such a personal thing... everyone has their own specific taste.
Regarding the dress itself, bridal salons always seem to run these big sales around Christmas that last until January 31st, where they’ll drop prices by 30%, or they might tell you that you'll get $333 off if you put down a deposit on the day of your first fitting. I don't know if it's just a marketing tactic to rush people along—maybe they do that all year round—but my wedding was in August, and I hadn't even planned on looking for a dress before the five or six-month mark. However, once I saw those sales, I decided to go check out what was available just for the sake of information. I was actually shocked to find out at one shop that 6 out of the 10 dresses I liked were already reserved for my date, so it ended up happening that I had my dress booked within the very first month. The earlier you start hunting, the better your selection will be...
As for the shops, here is what I experienced: I looked around Appalachia, Boise, and San Francisco. Appalachia is definitely cheaper than San Francisco, but if you manage to snag one of those holiday sales, the price ends up being about the same.
If you’re looking for something modern, lacey, or just a simple flowy style, stay far away from Jelena in Boise, because she only carries old-fashioned satin and tulle ballgowns. Mila in Boise has designer brands, but honestly, she’s just so incredibly provincial. If you’re on the taller side, you probably won't find anything that works because her seamstress doesn't actually tailor the dresses to fit; she just cuts them based on the height of whatever bride reserved it. Also, if you're short like me, you'll probably feel pretty insulted because—and I am quoting her here—“she isn't going to cut her dresses for someone so small.” She only stocks lace and tulle because, again, her words, “nobody asks for a simple chiffon dress!!!” And please, steer clear of Annmarie in Boise; the woman keeps five dresses in a room inside her own house.
In San Francisco, Lipoto has some decent options, but their lace looks pretty cheap compared to New York City or Vogue Bride. Plus, my maid of honor tried on a dress that had never been worn before and noticed a hole in it right away. So, there's that level of quality for you. As for New York City, I have nothing but praise; it was the most professional and helpful salon I've ever stepped foot in, and the dresses are stunning. Now, Vogue Bride—the dresses are lovely, and that's where I booked mine since it was perfect for me. The agreement was that they would alter it to fit me perfectly since it was an older gown they weren't using anymore. But then, four days before the wedding, I went in for a fitting and was absolutely floored. There was no tailoring done at all; the seamstress was just trying to tighten and hem it. The more she worked on it, the worse it looked. I had to go back for three different fittings that single day. After the third attempt, the owner offered me two other dresses from their stock to choose from because it was obvious I had to give up on my original choice. I picked one that was beautiful, though not quite what I originally envisioned, they took my measurements, and told me to come back in two days. I showed up on Thursday, just two days before the wedding, with a million things to do, and they still hadn't finished the alterations properly. I ended up going back to the salon three times that day alone. I lost an entire day because of them. The owner told me it was the first time they'd ever had someone come in for so many fittings. When my maid of honor got married three weeks later, the exact same thing happened to her. Granted, she didn't have to change her dress, but she also had to deal with three or four fittings. On the actual wedding day, the seam of her dress split open (the photographer caught it during the photo session), so we had to sew it shut right before heading to the church. Despite all that drama, I still think it's one of the best shops alongside New York City.
Anyway, I hope this helps someone out. Arm yourselves with patience, visit every shop in the area, and don't go as a pack—just bring one person, maybe two at most. Once you find "the one," you'll just know (I told my maid of honor immediately that it was "the one," but unfortunately, fate didn't have the same plan for me 😁 ). If you want a good laugh, go see Jelena in Boise. Tell her you want a simple, flowing dress, and she’ll probably assume you mean "Roman style," and you'll see exactly what she offers you. 😁
